Director of HR

Suffolk Jobs Direct; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious independent school in Ipswich is seeking a skilled Director of HR. In this senior role, you will oversee employee relations, manage HR operations, and ensure compliance with workplace legislation. Required qualifications include a Level 5 CIPD and a solid background in HR, preferably within the educational sector. The role offers a salary of up to £50,000 per year with competitive benefits, including generous holiday and pension contributions.

Benefits

30 days’ paid holiday

10% employer contributions to pension scheme

Free lunch during term time

Access to swimming pool and fitness gym

Mental health support app access

Cycle to Work Scheme

Qualifications

• Experienced HR professional required with relevant qualifications.
• Excellent understanding of Ofsted/ISI compliance frameworks needed.
• Experience in medium/large sized businesses, ideally educational.

Responsibilities

• Oversee employee relations casework and HR operational matters.
• Shape the School’s culture and manage staff recruitment.
• Ensure compliance with payroll, pension, and absence management.

Skills

Experience in HR

Understanding of employment law

Time management

Communication skills

Tact and diplomacy

Empathy

Patience

Resilience

Education

Level 5 CIPD or equivalent

Job description

Ipswich School are looking for a Director of HR.

Ipswich School has been listed as one of the top 130 schools in the country and is certainly one of the foremost independent schools in East Anglia. We were established prior to 1399, and moved to our present site in 1852. We have been regularly voted Suffolk’s top independent school in The Sunday Times Parent Power League, and have circa 1000 pupils aged between 3 months and 19 years.

We have a day nursery (The Lodge Day Nursery), Prep School and Senior School, located near to Christchurch Park, with sports facilities located in Rushmere and at Notcutts, off Henley Road. With around 430 staff, and all operations, including catering and cleaning, managed ‘in house’, we are a large local employer of both teaching and support staff.

In this important, senior role you will oversee employee relations casework, help senior management shape the School’s culture, and ensure the School’s HR function is equipped to meet the needs and expectations of our staff.

In addition, you will have responsibility for the oversight and management of all HR operational matters, including staff recruitment, right to work checks, all disciplinary, grievance and capability processes, payroll, Workplace Pension Legislation, sickness/absence and occupational health, staff benefits and staff performance review, training and development.

You should be an experienced HR professional, holding a relevant qualification (minimum Level 5 CIPD or equivalent), with experience of working in a medium/large sized business (ideally in an educational environment, with an excellent understanding of Ofsted/ISI compliance frameworks). A very good understanding of employment law, and excellent time management and communication skills are essential, together with high levels of tact, diplomacy, empathy, patience and resilience to resolve sometimes complex and emotive issues.

This is a full-time, senior role in the School, and you will work throughout the year.

Hours of work, benefits and salary:

• You will work throughout the year on Mondays – Fridays for a minimum of 37.5 hours per week. Please note the normal core working hours in the HR team are Mondays – Fridays between 8.00 am – 5.00 pm.
• The starting salary will be up to £50,000 per annum (depending on your qualifications, skills and experience). Salaries are paid monthly in arrears by BACS on the last working day of each month throughout the year.
• You will be entitled to 30 days’ paid holiday per year, plus public holidays.
• After 3 months’ service and/or in line with workplace pension legislation, you will be entitled to join a defined contribution pension scheme, with 10% employer contributions, and you will receive 3x death in service life cover.
• If there are pupil vacancies and you have a child or children who are eligible to attend the School who have satisfied the entry criteria as set out in the School’s Admissions Policy, and have been awarded a place, you could be entitled to generous fee remission (currently 50%), on successful completion of your probationary period. This potential benefit can be discussed further with shortlisted candidates at interview.
• Free lunch is provided in the School Dining Hall during term time when the kitchen is in operation.
• Staff are able to use the School's swimming pool and fitness gym (in compliance with appropriate rules and regulations).
• You will have access to Smarthealth, the School’s wellbeing app for staff which offers 24/7 GP access and mental health support. We also offer a Cycle to Work Scheme.

For more information and how to apply

We would encourage you to download the full job description for this role from our website. Please apply using our application form. We cannot accept a CV in place of a fully completed application form for a role that involves working in a school environment.

Completed application forms should be returned to: the Director of Finance and Operations, Ipswich School, 25 Henley Road, Ipswich, IP1 3SG or email [e-mail]

Candidates shortlisted for interview will be advised as soon as possible after the closing date and at interview we will also ask candidates to undergo a competency assessment.

Closing date: 9am, 26 January 2026

Interview date: 27 January 2026

Candidates may be contacted or invited to interview prior to the closing date, and we may close this vacancy early if suitable candidates apply. Therefore, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

PLEASE NOTE

Ipswich School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the job, including checks with past employers and an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

More Information

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